I’m not Italian Wedding Soup

March 25, 2012

I may not be Italian or at a wedding, but I am plesantly full. Luckily due to a delicious pot of simmering soup I made this afternoon. As the windy storm graced us full speed, I jumped to bust-out my soup pot. Sundays are my favorite for cooking something, which may be too involved for a weeknight meal. That is not the case today because time is on our side! I was torn between making meatballs & pasta, or a pot of soup…ever the quandary. The result is a marriage of both. Here is my take on Italian Wedding Soup and a Vegetable Minestrone. Traditional Italian Wedding Soup usually has small meatballs, tiny pasta, fresh spinach, all amidst a chicken-based stock. Well, that does sound delectable, but I wanted to change it-up with some other veggies/flavors that will both satisfy and give us extra texture.

This Mini Meatball Minestrone is perfect on a cold night and makes for ample leftovers. It’s a little more involved, as we not only have a good amount of prep work, but we have to make baby balls of meat, which require a little more patience…or maybe a good glass of Chardonnay. Whatever works better for you! In addition to homemade meatballs, our plentiful pot will hold fresh garlic, onion, leek, carrot. spinach, zucchini, wine, seasonings, chicken stock, and a tiny star-shaped pasta called Stelline. I assure that this one falls nothing short of stellar.

The homemade meatballs in this soup make it extra special and we're loading it with fresh veggies. Italian inspired & a true one pot comfort meal. I went with turkey meatballs, but ground chicken or pork meatballs would be equally as delicious. Second helpings required!

It may take awhile, but it’s time well spent! And it’s not like you’d rather be standing out in inclement weather anyhow. We are getting a well-balanced soup with seasonal vegetables, lean protein and bowls of flavor. The meatballs alone are wonderful, and just a bit smaller than regular to work with the existing ingreds in the soup. We’re able to achieve enhanced flavor with the white wine & fresh basil, and so, I think I may have found a new favorite! I highly recommend this one for your next rainy weekend, or when a comforting meal just seems in order.

Welcome to the dinnervine!

Thank you for visiting the dinnervine! In the words of Julia Child, "People who love to eat, are always the best people," and I couldn't agree more. I hope you enjoy these dishes as much as I did making them. Here's to creating new recipes and memories with friends & family, cheers!